REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO, AN ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONALS WHO BELIEVE THAT INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE, FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE >>LORENE: HELLO, I AM LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

OUR GUEST TODAY IS STUART ASHMAN, WELCOME, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>STUART: THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>LORENE: YOU HAVE RESUSCITATED FROM THE PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN, YOU ARE THE CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART MARKET IN SANTA FE AND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE IT IN PERSON THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR EVERYBODY HID OUT, WAS LAYING LOW.

SO, I AM ANXIOUS TO HEAR ABOUT IT, ANXIOUS TO HEAR ABOUT SOME OF YOUR TREASURES AND ANXIOUS TO HEAR ABOUT YOU.

SO, TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, WHERE WERE YOU BORN, WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

>>STUART: I GREW UP IN CUBA AND THEN MY FAMILY MOVED TO NEW YORK WHEN I WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD.

I WENT TO SCHOOL IN NEW YORK AND MOVED OUT HERE WHEN I WAS IN MY TWENTIES AND HAD A VERY NICE CAREER IN THE MUSEUM BUSINESS WITH ONE LITTLE STINT IN LOS ANGELES.

AND THEN CAME BACK AND HERE I AM AT THE INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART MARKET WHICH IS ONE OF MY GREAT PASSIONS.

>>LORENE: ABSOLUTELY AND MINE TOO.

YOU HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS A CULTURAL AMBASSADOR WITH OVER 30 YEARS IN THE ARTS, BUT YOU DID HAVE ANOTHER LITTLE INTERLUDE IN STATE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE UNDER GOVERNOR RICHARDSON YOU WERE THE CABINET SECRETARY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS FROM 2003 TO 2010.

AND DURING THAT TIME, YOU STARTED A NEW HISTORY MUSEUM IN SANTA FE, YOU DID ALL THESE AMAZING THINGS BUT UNDER YOUR AUSPICES, YOU MANAGED TO FUND A NEW IDEA FOR THE FOLK MARKET.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THE BIRTH OF THE FOLK MARKET AND THE FUNDING AND HOW EARLY, BECAUSE YOU AND YOUR WIFE, PEGGY, WERE ON THE BOARD.

>>STUART: MY WIFE WAS, I WAS NOT ON THE BOARD BECAUSE I WAS THE SECRETARY.

BUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE INCLUDING JUDY ESPINAR, CHARLENE CERNY, CHARMAY ALLRED AND TOM AAGESON APPROACHED ME AND THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO START AN INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART MARKET AND SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA FOR SANTA FE, FOR THE STATE, FOR THE ARTISTS.

AND SO, WE LET THEM HAVE MILNER PLAZA UP ON MUSEUM HILL AND WE SET THEM UP WITH A SMALL OFFICE IN THE UDALL BUILDING AND THEN GOVERNOR RICHARDSON HELPED FUND A $300,000 GRANT TO GET THEM GOING AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

YOU KNOW THE FIRST YEAR, THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE GOING TO COME AND IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AND IT HAS BEEN GROWING EVER SINCE.

IN 2019, WE SOLD $3.1 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ART IN 22 HOURS, WE HAD 160 ARTISTS FROM 52 COUNTRIES AND WE INSTITUTED US BORN ARTISTS WHICH WAS NEVER IN THE PAST AND THE WAY THOSE ARTISTS COME IN IS THEY ARE INVITED BY THE LOCAL MUSEUMS, SO THEY ARE SPECIAL HONOREES.

>>LORENE: YES.

JUST ONE OTHER LITTLE DETOUR THAT YOU TOOK, YOU WERE THE CEO OF THE MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART IN LONG BEACH AND THEN YOU WERE ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF CURATOR AT SANTA FE CCA, THE CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS.

SO, YOU HAVE CARVED ALMOST EVERY ART OR EVERY ASPECT OF THE ARTS BUT YOUR TRUE HOME IS INTERNATIONAL ART AND YOU'VE JUST DONE SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB.

>>STUART: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: YOU HAVE HAD TO MAKE A LOT OF ADJUSTMENTS THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

SO LAST YEAR EVERYBODY QUIT - THE OPERA DIDN'T HAPPEN, THE INDIAN MARKET DIDN'T HAPPEN, THE FOLK ART MARKET DIDN'T HAPPEN AND NOW WE CAN HARDLY WAIT.

BUT WHAT ARE THE CHANGES THAT YOU'VE HAD TO MAKE TO MAKE IT COVID SAFE?

>>STUART: WELL, YOU KNOW WE STARTED DESIGNING THE WAY THAT IT IS GOING TO BE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO OBVIOUSLY, NEW MEXICO AND SANTA FE PARTICULARLY, HAVE TURNED TURQUOISE SO THERE IS A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITY, BUT WE ARE STICKING TO WHAT WE ORIGINALLY PLANNED, WHICH IS INSTEAD OF DOING IT OVER ONE WEEKEND STARTING ON FRIDAY, WE ARE DOING IT OVER TWO WEEKENDS STARTING ON WEDNESDAY SO THAT WE CAN DISTRIBUTE THE CROWD.

WE HAVE TIMED ENTRY TICKETS, 200 PEOPLE AT A TIME, SO THAT WILL BE 1,000 PEOPLE PER DAY.

SOMEDAYS, NORMALLY, WE WOULD HAVE 7,000 - 8,000 PEOPLE.

AND PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CROWDING SO THIS WILL BE VERY HELPFUL TO THEM AS WELL.

AND THEN WE HAVE LESS ARTISTS BECAUSE OF VISA RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT VACCINATED AND THEY CAN'T COME FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS, SO WE HAVE 58 BOOTHS EACH WEEKEND.

AND WE ANTICIPATE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 130 ARTISTS OVER THE TWO-WEEKEND PERIOD.

>>LORENE: AND WERE THERE SOME INTERNATIONAL HEALTH PROTOCOLS FOR PEOPLE, SAY FROM INDIA AND FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE THE VIRUS IS A LITTLE MORE OUT OF CONTROL, SO DOES EVERYONE HAVE TO BE TESTED?

>>STUART: WELL, THE AIRLINES REQUIRE THAT YOU BE TESTED 72 HOURS BEFORE YOU BOARD THE PLANE, SO THAT IS ONE SAFETY MEASURE.

WE ALSO HAVE DR. DIANE FREEDMAN WHO IS OUR COVID PROTOCOL MANAGER AND SHE ARRANGED TO HAVE RAPID TESTING WHICH WILL BE DONE RIGHT AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE.

IF THEY TEST NEGATIVE, THEY ARE GOOD TO GO, IF THEY TEST POSITIVE, THEY ARE GOING TO STAY AT THEIR HOTEL FOR TWO WEEKS.

AND THEN WE ALSO QUESTIONED ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS, WE HAVE 800 VOLUNTEERS AND WE SAID, "ARE YOU VACCINATED, YES, NO, OR I PREFER NOT TO SAY."

SO, IF YOU SAY, "NO," OR "PREFER NOT TO SAY," YOU HAVE TO BE TESTED, IF YOU SAID, "YES," THEN YOU ARE GOOD TO GO.

ALL OF THE STAFF IS VACCINATED AND WE ALL TOOK AND PASSED THE STATE SAFETY COVID REGULATIONS SO WE KNOW WHAT TO DO ESSENTIALLY.

AND I THINK WE ALSO HAVE OVER 3,000 QUARTS OF HAND SANITIZER THAT WERE DONATED TO US, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY SAFE.

>>LORENE: AND THE FACT THAT IT IS OUTSIDE.

>>STUART: IT IS OUTDOORS IN OPEN TENTS.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>STUART: AND 200 PEOPLE AT A TIME IN A 50,000 SQUARE FOOT SPACE OUTDOORS SHOULD BE PLENTY COMFORTABLE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE FARMER'S MARKET, THAT IS A LOT MORE CROWDED THAN WE ARE AND YOU KNOW WE ARE NOT USING THAT AS A MODEL, BUT WE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING ALL THE PROTOCOLS.

>>LORENE: I AM SO GRATEFUL TO YOU.

I KNOW IT TOOK A LOT OF THINKING AND A LOT OF BRAINSTORMING, WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

WHAT ABOUT PARKING AND THE BUSES, BECAUSE IN YOUR PRIME, JUST TWO YEARS AGO, YOU HAD PEOPLE PARKING AT THE PERA BUILDING IN SANTA FE AND THEN TAKE BUSES UP.

>>STUART: RIGHT, WELL WE DID SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR, WE HAVE PARKING AT ATALAYA SCHOOL, RIO GRANDE SCHOOL, SANTA FE PREP AND THE CARMELITE SEMINARY AND WE HAVE EIGHT SHUTTLE BUSES RUNNING EVERY SEVEN MINUTES.

>>LORENE: THAT'S GREAT.

>>STUART: SO, PEOPLE WILL BE COMING FROM THERE.

>>LORENE: MUCH CLOSER.

>>STUART: YES, AND WE ARE NOT CLOSING THE STREET AS WE NORMALLY DO, BUT THERE WILL BE NO PARKING ON CAMINO LEJO AND NO PARKING IN THE MUSEUM LOT BECAUSE THE MUSEUMS AND THE RESTAURANT ARE OPEN.

>>LORENE: OH LORD.

>>STUART: SO, WE HAVE SET IT UP SO THAT PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE GOING AND THE MUSEUMS ARE ALL FREE DURING THE WHOLE MARKET, SO THAT'S A GESTURE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEMONSTRATING THEIR SUPPORT FOR OUR ACTIVITY.

SO, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE BUY A TWO-HOUR TICKET, THEY CAN HAVE LUNCH, GO TO THE MUSEUM.

>>LORENE: THEY CAN HAVE LUNCH, THEY CAN GO OUT TO THE FOLK ART MUSEUM.

>>STUART: EXACTLY.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH.

>>STUART: SO, IT WILL BE REALLY AN ENRICHING EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYBODY THAT COMES.

>>LORENE: WELL, I AM SO PLEASED THAT YOU BROUGHT SOME SHOW AND TELL ITEMS, I AM ENCHANTED WITH ALL OF THEM.

IF YOU COULD TAKE A MOMENT AND TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT...ONE THING, THE JEEP IS FROM CUBA, RIGHT?

>>STUART: THAT'S RIGHT, THIS IS FROM LEANDRO GOMEZ QUINTERO FROM BARACOA IN THE STATE OF GUANTÁNAMO IN CUBA HE WAS A HISTORY TEACHER AND HE STARTED MAKING WORLD WAR II MILITARY VEHICLES TO TEACH AND THEN PEOPLE SAID TO HIM, "YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD DO THE CARS THAT WE HAVE AROUND HERE."

SO, THIS IS A 1952 WILLY'S OVERLAND WHICH IS A LEFTOVER STATION WAGON, REALLY THE FIRST SUVS, AND IT IS USED FOR CROSS COUNTRY INTERSTATE TRANSPORT AND YOU CAN SEE HE HAS GOT ALL OF THE DETAILS.

HE HAS GOT A MATTRESS, SOME LUGGAGE ON THE ROOF AND HE HAS EVEN GOT CREDIT CARD SYMBOLS ON THE WINDOW, WHICH I DON'T KNOW HOW HE GOT AHOLD OF.

BUT EVERYTHING IN THE VEHICLE IS HANDMADE FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS, THE BODY IS POSTER BOARD, THE WHEELS ARE STYROFOAM AND EVERY DETAIL, HE PAYS ATTENTION TO EVERY DETAIL.

SO, HE IS A WONDERFUL ARTIST AND HE HAS DONE VERY WELL AT THE MARKET.

HE WAS ABLE TO REBUILD HIS HOUSE WITH THE MONEY HE MADE AT THE MARKET AFTER THE HURRICANE AND ALSO HE BOUGHT THE TOWN AN ALARM THAT WOULD ALERT EVERYBODY ABOUT... >>LORENE: AN APPROACHING HURRICANE.

>>STUART: THAT'S RIGHT.

>>LORENE: THAT'S WONDERFUL.

>>STUART: SO, HE IS ONE OF MY HEROES.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE WILL DO A CLOSEUP OF THAT, THE DETAIL ON THAT IS PHENOMENAL.

>>STUART: IT REALLY IS AMAZING.

>>LORENE: JUST PHENOMENAL.

>>STUART: YEAH, AND IF YOU PICK IT UP, I AM NOT GOING TO PICK IT UP NOW BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO UPSET THE SET, BUT IT DOESN'T WEIGH ANYTHING.

IT SURPRISES PEOPLE BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE A REPLICA TONKA TOY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S NOT A TOY AT ALL, IT IS A WONDERFUL SCULPTURE.

>>LORENE: NOW, LET'S JUST STAY ON CUBA FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THE ARTISTS COMING, THERE ARE SEVEN BOOTHS, BUT ONE IS MANNED BY THE ARTIST HIMSELF.

>>STUART: THAT'S RIGHT AND TWO WERE ACTUALLY COMING BUT JET BLUE CANCELLED ALL THE FLIGHTS AND THE ONE THAT IS COMING, HIS DAUGHTER LIVES IN MIAMI AND SHE WAS ABLE TO FIND HIM A FLIGHT BUT HAVANA TO MIAMI ONE WAY FOR $1,000, SO SHE FUNDED IT FOR HIM AND THAT'S WHY HE IS ABLE TO COME.

THE OTHER ARTIST, IF I CAN SHOW YOU THIS, IS GUILLERMO ESTRADA VIERA AND HE IS A PRINT MAKER AND HE PRINTS ON THE CUBAN RATION CARDS AND THIS IS KIND OF A POLITICAL STATEMENT BECAUSE IT IS A RATION CARD AND THERE IS A SNAKE ON IT AND THE TITLE IS CARNE DE DIETA, DIET MEAT.

>>LORENE: OH NO.

>>STUART: SO THAT IS WHAT YOU GET TO EAT IS SNAKE BECAUSE THE RATION CARD DOESN'T GIVE YOU ANY MEAT.

>>LORENE: IT IS BEAUTIFULLY DONE.

>>STUART: SO THAT IS WHAT HE DOES THERE.

AND HE IS FROM HAVANA, A WONDERFUL, VERY INDUSTRIOUS ARTIST AND THIS WILL BE HIS FIRST YEAR AT THE MARKET.

>>LORENE: AH, GOOD.

>>STUART: SO, HE SENT OVER 200 PIECES.

HE MANAGED TO SEND THEM THROUGH COPA, A PANAMANIAN AIRLINES, WE JUST GOT THEM YESTERDAY.

>>LORENE: OH, CLOSE.

>>STUART: YEAH.

>>LORENE: WELL AND THE OTHER BOOTHS SO WOULD BE MANNED BY PEOPLE FROM THE FOLK ART MARKET.

>>STUART: YES, WE HAVE ARTIST'S REPRESENTATIVES, THESE ARE THE VOLUNTEERS THAT VOLUNTEER TO BE THERE THE WHOLE TIME TO SET UP THE BOOTH, OPEN THE CRATES, DISPLAY IT AND SUPERVISE THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS THAT WILL BE TAKING CARE OF THE BOOTHS.

OH, THE OTHER THING THAT I NEGLECTED TO MENTION, IS THAT WE HAVE A NEW PAYMENT SYSTEM.

THERE USED TO BE HUGE LINES AT THE CASH REGISTERS BUT NOW WE HAVE CREDIT CARD MACHINES.

ONE CREDIT CARD MACHINE FOR EVERY TWO BOOTHS AND WE HAVE OVER 30 TRAINED CASHIERS, SO HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A LOT SIMPLER.

>>LORENE: THAT WAS REALLY A PROBLEM.

I KNOW SALES WERE LOST BECAUSE YOU HAD TO HAVE THEM HOLD YOUR GOODS, YOU HAD TO GO WAIT IN LINE AND COME BACK WITH A TICKET.

>>STUART: NOT ANYMORE, NOW, WHEN YOU WALK IN THE DOOR YOU ARE GOING TO GET A FOLK ART MARKET BAG AND IT IS JUST LIKE GOING TO THE SUPERMARKET, YOU PUT THE STUFF IN THE BAG AND PAY FOR IT.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH STUART ASHMAN WHO IS THE CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART MARKET IN SANTA FE AND I AM THRILLED TO HAVE YOU TELLING US ABOUT THIS.

CAN YOU SHOW US YOUR SHIRT AND THEN ANOTHER SHIRT, TOO?

>>STUART: YES, THIS SHIRT HERE IS DONE BY LUIS TEJAS AND IT IS LA CONGA SANTA AGERAS.

IT IS A DETAIL OF A PAINTING OF BASICALLY A SPIRITUAL PARADE THAT THEY HAVE, LIKE A CARNIVAL EVERY YEAR IN EASTERN CUBA.

AND WE DESIGNED OUR T-SHIRTS TO HONOR HIS WORK AND THEY ARE JUST SO LIVELY.

>>LORENE: YES.

AND ANOTHER SHIRT THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE.

>>STUART: THIS OTHER ONE IS BY AN INNOVATION GROUP CALLED AMOPOLY FROM PERU AND BASICALLY WHAT THEY DO IS THEY MAKE CONTEMPORARY CLOTHING REFERENCING ANCIENT CULTURES OF PERU AND THIS WILL BE THEIR SECOND YEAR IN THE MARKET.

>>LORENE: GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

SO, I AM ENCHANTED BY THIS CHICKEN HERE, THIS BEAUTIFUL POT.

WHERE IS IT FROM, WHO MADE IT?

>>STUART: THIS IS FROM OAXACA, IT IS A MANUEL VEGAS VIERA AND HE IS A CERAMICIST AND A SCULPTOR FROM OAXACA AND MY WIFE WAS THERE VISITING HIM AND CONVINCED HIM TO ENTER THE MARKET.

HE REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO BUT NOW HE IS A CONVERT, WE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH HIS WORK IN OUR AUCTIONS, PEOPLE ARE REALLY CRAZY FOR THESE CHICKENS.

AND HE ALSO MAKES THESE BEAUTIFUL ALTER PIECES AND SCULPTURES ALL CERAMIC.

HE IS A WONDERFUL ARTIST, HIS WIFE WORKS WITH HIM.

>>LORENE: THERE WERE SEVERAL ARTISTS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN KIND OF FEATURING, ONE OF WHICH IS, I CAN'T EVEN PRONOUNCE THESE NAMES, WOUNAAN, PEOPLE OF COLUMBIA.

>>STUART: FROM THE WOUNAAN PEOPLE OF COLUMBIA.

THAT'S CRUCELINA OPURA OCHOA AND THAT'S A BASKET THERE, THAT BLACK AND WHITE BASKET WHICH LOOKS LIKE A POT.

IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A PUEBLO POT FROM NEW MEXICO BUT IT IS ACTUALLY MADE FROM THE STRINGS OF A PALM TREE, THEY MAKE THREADS OUT OF THE PALM TREE AND THEN THEY WEAVE THEM.

SO, IT IS A VERY INTRICATE AND TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS.

>>LORENE: AND THEY USE TRADITION GEOMETRIC DESIGNS WHICH ARE KIND OF AN ARCHETYPE FOUND IN MANY, MANY, MANY CULTURES BUT IT IS JUST STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL.

AND THEN THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON TOO, THAT WE DON'T HAVE A WORK OF HER'S BUT OLINDA SILVANO INUMA DE ARIAS.

>>STUART: YES.

>>LORENE: SHE IS A SHIPIBO-KONIBO PEOPLE FROM THE HEADWATERS OF THE AMAZON AND PERU.

>>STUART: EXACTLY, YES.

>>LORENE: AND THE TRADITION OF GEOMETRIC MAIZE, BLACK AND RED MAIZE WORK, I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD RECOGNIZE IT, BUT IT IS STUNNING AND THEY HAVE THESE ARTISTS OF THE FIRST DEGREE REPRESENTING THESE TRADITIONAL ARTS AND IN THE SHIPIBO CASE, THEIR RELIGION, THEIR WHOLE CULTURE, IT IS FABULOUS.

I AM VERY ANXIOUS TO SEE.

>>STUART: THIS WOMAN IS A VERY SACRED PERSON.

WE HAD A ZOOM CALL FOR HER, SHE SANG FOR US.

SHE HAS A VISA INTERVIEW ON THE 30TH, WE HAD SENATOR HEINRICH'S OFFICE INTERVENE AND GOT HER THE INTERVIEW, SO HOPEFULLY, SHE WILL BE ABLE TO COME.

>>LORENE: I HOPE SO, I HOPE SO.

AND THIS PIECE, IS THIS BOLIVIAN?

>>STUART: THIS IS ALSO PERUVIAN AND IT IS FROM A GROUP OF WEAVERS IN PERU.

>>LORENE: COULD IT BE PART ALPACA, IT IS VERY SOFT.

>>STUART: YES, IT IS ALPACA.

THAT IS WHAT THEY USE THERE FROM THE HIGHLANDS OF PERU.

AND THEN THE BEAUTIFUL NECKLACE YOU ARE WEARING.

>>LORENE: YES, THANK YOU.

>>STUART: THAT'S FROM KENYA, A COOPERATIVE CALLED ACACIA MOYO AND THEY WILL BE REPRESENTED HERE IN TOWN BY THEIR ARTIST REP. >>LORENE: SO, I DON'T SEE HOW ANYONE LISTENING TO THIS CANNOT WANT TO COME AND SEE IT.

SO, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE, PEOPLE COULD GO ONLINE, OH BY THE WAY, TELL US YOUR WEBSITE.

>>STUART: YES, IT'S FOLKARTMARKET.ORG AND IF YOU GO ON THAT, THE FIRST PAGE YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IS GOING TO SAY, "BUY TICKETS."

AND THEN THERE ARE CALENDARS THAT SHOW UP AND YOU PICK WHAT IS AVAILABLE.

THERE ARE STILL MANY TICKETS AVAILABLE, THE FIRST THURSDAY IS PRETTY MUCH SOLD OUT EXCEPT FOR LATE IN THE DAY, BUT THERE IS PLENTY OF TICKETS AND SUNDAYS ARE USUALLY OUR COMMUNITY DAY, SO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME ON SUNDAY AS WELL.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENS ON SUNDAY IS THAT AFTER ONE O'CLOCK THE ARTISTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE THEIR PRICES BY 30% IF THEY SO CHOOSE, BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SHIP IT HOME AND SO THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A BARGAIN IF THERE IS ANYTHING GOOD LEFT, WHICH THERE ALWAYS IS.

>>LORENE: THERE ALWAYS IS.

>>STUART: YOU KNOW BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME EARLY AND BE THE FIRST ONES IN.

PEOPLE ARE ALREADY CALLING AND SAYING, "THEY SAW THE MAGAZINE IN THE NEW MEXICAN AND THEY WANT THAT PIECE THAT IS IN THE MAGAZINE."

WELL, THEY WILL HAVE TO COME EARLY AND RUN TO THE BOOTH.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH.

>>STUART: THAT IS PART OF THE EXCITEMENT.

>>LORENE: IN THE PAST YOU HAVE DONE THINGS TO MAKE IT EASIER.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAD A SPECIAL LINE FOR MEMBERS OF THE MUSEUM AND YOU HAD A BIKE VALET, YOU KNOW I THINK WE ARE JUST LUCKY TO BE OPEN.

>>STUART: WE DO HAVE A BIKE VALET THIS YEAR THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE 60 BIKES.

AND YOU KNOW WE WANT TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM WALKING TO THE MARKET BECAUSE, EVEN IF YOU LIVE NEARBY, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT CLOSING CAMINO LEJO, SO THERE IS TRAFFIC.

SO THAT'S PART OF OUR CONCERN, WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY GETTING HIT BY A CAR.

BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY BICYCLE THERE, THAT WILL MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU, PARKING IS RIGHT THERE.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW WHO CAME UP WITH THAT BUT THAT REALLY ENCOURAGES PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IT IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH, THE BICYCLE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PARKING IT OR HAVING YOUR BIKE STOLEN OR ANYTHING.

>>STUART: AND WE ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL TENT CALLED ART VALET, SO FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU CAME ON YOUR BICYCLE AND YOU BOUGHT... >>LORENE: A HUGE VASE.

>>STUART: YEAH, SO IT WOULD BE IN THE ART VALET LIKE A COAT CHECK AND THEN YOU CAN GO GET YOUR PICKUP TRUCK AND COME BACK AND GET IT.

SO THAT IS ANOTHER ACCOMMODATION WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SO PEOPLE CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT BUYING A LOT.

>>LORENE: YES, WELL WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT, YOU HAVE BEEN WITH THIS SINCE ITS INCEPTION AND IT HAS BEEN GROWING ORGANICALLY AND THEN WE HAD THE PANDEMIC AND NOW IT IS STARTING UP AGAIN.

>>STUART: I THINK WHAT I AM MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS SEEING ALL THE ARTISTS.

WE DID A ZOOM CALL AND WE HAD 76 ARTISTS ON IT AND WHEN WE FINISHED THE ZOOM CALL, NOBODY WOULD LEAVE.

WE WAITED 15 MINUTES BEFORE EVERYBODY WOULD SAY GOOD-BYE, THEY WERE JUST SO HAPPY.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

ONE OTHER THING THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST YOU USED TO HAVE PASSPORTS FOR KIDS.

SO, KIDS COULD GET THE MAP OF WHAT COUNTRY AND WHAT ARTIST WAS WHERE.

>>STUART: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: AND THEY COULD GO AND GET THEIR LITTLE, WHAT AN INTRODUCTION TO WORLD TRAVEL AND TO WORLD ARTS.

>>STUART: IT IS.

>>LORENE: PROBABLY NOT THIS YEAR?

>>STUART: WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT THIS YEAR AND YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS I DON'T WANT TO DO IT, WE ARE NOT PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGING KIDS COMING BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE 200 PEOPLE, SO WE WANT ALL OF THEM TO BE BUYERS.

>>LORENE: YES, YES.

>>STUART: WE ARE NOT OFFERING FREE TICKETS TO CHILDREN EITHER WHICH WE NORMALLY DO.

SO, YOU KNOW EVERYBODY HAS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COME BACK YEAR, WE ALSO REDUCED THE BOOTH FEES FOR THE ARTISTS.

>>LORENE: OH GOOD.

>>STUART: BY 50 PERCENT, SO IT IS $300 FOR A BOOTH.

YOU KNOW COMPARE THAT TO THE OTHER MARKETS IN TOWN AND IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER.

THEY HAVE OTHER EXPENSES, THEY HAVE TO FLY HERE, THEY HAVE TO HOUSE THEMSELVES.

SO, YOU KNOW THEY HAVE TO REALLY INVEST IN THEMSELVES AS A BUSINESS AND THAT'S REALLY PART OF WHAT WE ARE TEACHING THEM.

WE HAVE A MENTOR TO MARKET PROGRAM WHICH IS NOW ONLINE AND IT IS GOING TO BE EXPORTED TO ARTISANS THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ANY OTHER ARTISTS REALLY.

IT TEACHES THEM THINGS LIKE HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH, HOW TO TALK TO A CUSTOMER, HOW TO PRICE YOUR THINGS, HOW TO DISPLAY YOUR THINGS.

IN SHORT, EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

>>LORENE: BUT EVEN FROM THE BEGINNING YOU WOULD PAIR AN INTERNATIONAL ARTIST WITH A LOCAL ARTIST SO THAT THEY HAD SUPPORT FOR HOW TO DO IT.

YOU KNOW IN COUNTRIES WHERE BARGAINING IS HOW YOU DO BUSINESS, BUT WE WILL SAVE THAT FOR THE LAST SUNDAY, BUT UNTIL THEN, STICK TO YOUR PRICE AND SOMEONE WILL PROBABLY PAY THAT.

>>STUART: THAT'S RIGHT, WE ARE PRETTY STRICT.

WE HAVE A STANDARDS COMMITTEE THAT IS VERY STRICT ABOUT WHATEVER PRICE YOU PUT IN YOUR APPLICATION, THAT'S THE PRICE THAT HAS TO BE IN YOUR BOOTH AND THERE IS NO NEGOTIATING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE PRICE AND THAT THE PRICE, IF YOU SAY, "WELL, WHAT IF I BUY TWO OF THEM," WELL, IT IS THE SAME PRICE WHETHER YOU BUY ONE OR SIX.

WE HAVE TO DO THAT AS A LEARNING TOOL, YOU KNOW WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH ARTISTS THAT ARE SO EAGER TO SELL THAT THEY WILL GIVE THINGS AWAY, PRICE WISE, AND THAT DOESN'T HELP THEM EITHER, SO... >>LORENE: JUST BEFORE WE GO, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE WOMAN FROM ZIMBABWE WITH THE BASKETS WHOSE BASKETS DIDN'T MAKE IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YEAR THIS WAS, BUT THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES ABOUT.

>>STUART: JANET NKUBANA.

YEAH, YOU KNOW THE STORY HAS PROBABLY BEEN ENHANCED AND DILUTED MANY TIMES, BUT HOW I KNOW THE STORY IS SHE CAME, SHE WAS A WIDOW FROM THE HUTU AND TUTSI GENOCIDE THAT HAPPENED THERE.

AND SHE WAS A WIDOW, SHE WAS LEFT WITH CHILDREN, SHE HAD NO WAY OF GETTING FOOD FOR HERSELF, BUT HER GRANDMOTHER USED TO MAKE BASKETS AND SHE KNEW HOW TO MAKE BASKETS.

SO, SHE STARTED TEACHING OTHER WOMEN HOW TO MAKE BASKETS, ONE OF THE WOMEN THAT SHE TAUGHT WAS ALSO A WIDOW AND IT HAPPENED THAT THAT WIDOW'S HUSBAND WAS THE ONE THAT KILLED HER HUSBAND.

>>LORENE: OH, MY LORD.

>>STUART: SO, IT WAS HEAVY.

SO ANYWAY, SHE CAME TO THE MARKET, THERE WAS A BIG STORY IN THE NEW MEXICAN .

SHE SOLD $22,000 WORTH OF BASKETS AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GO HOME AND DRILL A WELL SO THAT THEY USED TO WALK FIVE KILOMETERS, THAT IS THREE AND ONE HALF MILES TO GET WATER, NOW IT IS IN THE VILLAGE.

SHE HELPED REBUILD A SCHOOL WITH THAT MONEY AND CONTINUED TO MAKE BASKETS AND NOW HER WORK IS AT MACYS.

>>LORENE: OH, WONDERFUL.

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL.

>>STUART: SO, SHE DOESN'T NEED US ANYMORE.

>>LORENE: YES, BUT YOU WERE THERE WHEN SHE DID, YOU KNOW AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE THE RIPPLES OF THE ECONOMIC EFFECT FROM THE INDIVIDUAL ARTIST AND HIS FAMILY TO HIS OR HER COMMUNITY.

TALK ABOUT WOMEN ARTISTS IN PARTICULAR.

>>STUART: WELL ONE OF OUR PILLARS IS WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN OFFERING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN.

YOU KNOW IN MANY OF THE COUNTRIES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD ARE MATRIARCHAL SOCIETIES, YOU KNOW THE WOMEN ARE THE ONES THAT ARE FEEDING THE CHILDREN, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GETTING THE FOOD WHILE THE HUSBANDS ARE DOING WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY DO.

SO, WE ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN FOSTERING THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY.

YOU KNOW, IN GUATEMALA YOU HAVE BACK STRAP LOOM WOMEN, IN INDIA AND ETHIOPIA, ALL OF THOSE PLACES, THE WOMEN ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MAKING THE ART AND SO WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

YOU KNOW, IN THE WHOLE WORLD, EVEN IN THE CONTEMPORARY ART WORLD, WOMEN ARE NOT AS EXPOSED AS MEN ARE.

I MEAN IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, GEORGIA O'KEEFE WAS THE ONE THAT BROKE BARRIERS, YOU KNOW AT FIRST THEY DIDN'T WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER BECAUSE SHE WAS A WOMAN, NOW WE HAVE FREIDA KAHLO, YOU KNOW WHO WAS ALWAYS KNOWN AS DIEGO'S WIFE, BUT NOW SHE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN DIEGO IN SOME CIRCLES.

SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ELEVATE WOMEN AND RECOGNIZE THEM FOR WHAT THEY DO.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU ELEVATE WOMEN, YOU ELEVATE ARTISTS, YOU INTEGRATE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS INTO OUR EVERYDAY LIFE, IT IS SUCH A GIFT YOU GIVE US WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART MARKET.

AND SO, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, OUR GUEST TODAY IS STUART ASHMAN, THE CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART MARKET IN SANTA FE.

IT IS GOING TO RUN FROM JULY 7 TO JULY 18.

>>STUART: CORRECT.

>>LORENE: AND SO, GO TO THE WEBSITE, WHICH IS... >>STUART: INTERNATIONALFOLKARTMARKET.ORG.

>>LORENE: EXCELLENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, STUART.

>>STUART: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: AND I AM LORENE MILLS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU OUR AUDIENCE FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON A VERY SPECIAL EDITION OF REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO, AN ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONALS WHO BELIEVE THAT INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE, FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE